Apron band retainer for a filament drafting device



lHEl BEPPU 3,243,854

APRON BAND RETAINER FOR A FILAMENT DRAF'I'ING DEVICE April 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1962 Ihei Beppu ORNEY April 5, 1966 lHEl BEPPU 3,243,354

7 APRON BAND RETAINER FOR A FILAMENT DRAFTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1962 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ihei Beppu FIG.7. BY

ORNEY April 5, 1966 lHEl BEPPU 3,243,854

APRON BAND RETAINER FOR A FILAMENT DRAFTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.6.

INVENTOR [hei Beppu BY Jpflo ORNEY United States Patent Claims. i. 19-254 This invention relates to improvements in spinning machines and, more particularly, to such machines embodying apron band type drafting devices.

In such devices it was formerly necessary to bodily remove the upper apron band supporting or retaining frame when it became necessary to have access to the lower band for repair or for removing filaments wound about or entangled therewith.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a device of the type mentioned, a construction by which access to and repairs, replacement or removal of entangled fibers may be had andeffected without removal of the upper band retaining frame.

Another object is to provide in a machine of the kind described, a construction by which the upper band retaining frame and parts carried thereby, may be pivoted upwardly about a horizontal axis remote from the nip points, and automatically and releasably held in raised position free and clear of the lower band, as well as the lower roller and tenser.

Yet another object is to provide a device as aforesaid in which the upper retaining frame can be raised to a selected one of two rotational, pivotal, or raised positions, held in either position automatically, and easily released for rotation to operating position when desired.

Still another object is to provide an apron band retaining frame which, when desired, can "be quickly and easily removed forinspection, repair or replacement.

Another object is to provide an apron band retaining frame for a filament drafting device which is adjustable for use of apron bands of lengths varying in accordance with various lengths of fibers to be spun.

A still further object is to provide an apron band retaining frame as in the preceding paragraph and wherein the advantages of pivoting of the upper band frame are retained.

Other objects and advantages will become obvious to those skiled in the art, after a study of the following de tailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an apron band type retaining frame embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 1, but showing the upper band retaining frame raised to, and releasably held in, its first position;

FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 1, but showing the upper band retaining frame raised fully to its second position;

' FIGURE 4 is a 'view looking in the direction of the arrow, FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a form of the invention embodying the features depicted upon FIGURES l to 4, and also showing adjusted to maximum band length, means by which the device may be adapted for bands of various lengths;

FIGURE 6 is aview corresponding to FIGURE 5 but showing the mechanism adjusted for band length; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of FIGURE 5.

3,243,854 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 Referring in detail especially to FIGURES 1 through 4, horizontal rod 4 and support stand 5 are secured to roller stand 3 by machine screw 6. The stand includes parallel arms 5a and 5b, FIGURE 4, extending upwardly and forwardly from a common base. Arm 5a has pins or studs 7 and 8 projecting outwardly therefrom. Likewise arm 512 has pins 7a and 8a projecting therefrom. Pins 7 and 7a are aligned, as are pins 8 and 8a. At 2 there is identified a portion of the upper part of the lower band retaining frame and comprising spaced upstanding members supporting lower tenser 2a between them, 3 identifies-the intermediate roller stand. Lower apron band roller 3a is journaled in roller stand 3 which in turn, is slidably mounted upon a support or frame generally identified at 30a and corresponding in construction and function with support 36, subsequently described in connection with the species shown upon FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

Upper band retaining frame 1 is for-med of a unitary piece of flat sheet metal having downwardly turned parallel vertical sides 1a and 1b, as clearly appears from inspection of FIGURE 4. At their forward ends these conjointly support upper tenser 1 Side 1a only appears upon FIGURES l, 2 and 3. It will be understood that side 1b is a duplicate of side 1a in size, shape and interaction with pins 7, 8, etc. Hence a description of side 1a is suflicient.

At the rear edge side Wall 1a is provided with a slot 9 which as shown, has two relatively offset portions. The slot is dimensioned to have a smooth sliding fit on pin 8. The rear edge of side 1a extending from the terminus of the upper edge of slot 9, is formed on a radius centered at the inner rounded end of the slot as is clearly indicated by radius arrow 14, FIGURE 1.

From the terminus or tip 16 of the lower edge of slot 9, the rear edge of side 1a is formed on a radius centered upon the central offset portion of slot 9', as indicated by radius arrow 13, FIGURE 1. The edge thus defined forms the upper edge of a slot 11. The lower edge of slot 11 is defined by a projection 11a extending generally coaxially with and in spaced relation along the upper edge. Pin 7 is disposed to be received within slot 11 when the upper retaining frame is lowered to the operating position of FIGURE 1.

When the parts are in the normal operating position of FIGURE 1, pin 8 fits the curved oifset upper edge of slot 9. Pin 7 is within slot 11 in spaced relation with the end thereof, and the arcuate upper edge of slot 11 lies in contact with this pin.

At this time, the upper and lower aprons or hands identified by dot-dash lines 10 and 1d, respectively, FIG- URE l, have their contiguous planar passes in contact in a manner known in the art. Intermediate roller 17 about which upper apron 10 passes at its rearward end, has axial end pins, one of which is identified at 17a. These ride in respective arcuate slots such as 17b centered upon the nip point of the frame 1, so that the intermediate roller may adjust its position in and along the slot in accord ance with the fibers being spun. Also, as indicated upon FIGURE 1, a lug on each side wall of the upper band retaining frame 1 of which 12 is identified upon FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3, engages a respective hook shaft such as 15, FIGURE 1. The construction and arrangement are such that in the operating position shown, the upper band retaining frame is releasab-ly held to maintain the two band passes in contact.

When the upper apron band is to be stopped for any purpose such as to repair or replace the lower band or to free it of filaments entangled therewith, the upper frame is translated slightly, upwardly and rearwardly to free lug 1e from hook shaft 15, following which the frame may be raised by pivoting about pin 8. During this movement between the first position of FIGURE 1 and the second position of FIGURE 2, pin 8 remains essentially in the position in slot 9 shown upon FIGURE 1, while the upper edge of groove or slot 11 rides on pin 7. As soon as point 16 rides oif pin 7 the frame, being essentially in the position shown upon FIGURE 2 drops slightly of its own weight, until pin 8 abuts the end of slot 9. This downward movement causes point 16 to engage beneath pin 7, so that the frame is securely but releasably held in first raised position wherein ready access may be had to the lower apron band to inspect, repair, replace or clean it of entangled filaments.

When it is desired to pivot the upper frame to the second or maximum raised position of FIGURE 3, it is merely necessary to continue the pivotal movement by which the frame was moved to the first position, of FIG- URE 2. During movement to the position of FIGURE 3 the frame pivots about pin 8 as a center, while the arcuate edge defined by radius 14, rides on pin 7 until in the limiting position, FIGURE 3, the frame is stopped as pin 7 seats in recess 12 defined by lug 12a. In this third position the centroid of the frame lies somewhat to the right of pin 8, as the parts are viewed upon FIGURE 3. Hence the frame is stable in the position shown and the lower roller and its band 1d are fully exposed. It is also clear that in the position shown upon FIGURE 3 or, in fact, in any pivotal position between those shown upon FIGURES 2 and 3, the entire upper frame may be lifted off the machine. During this movement, pin 8 simply rides in and along slot until the frame is compietely free of the machine and may be replaced or repaired.

To restore the frame to the first position, it is simply pivoted counterclockwise until point 16 engages pin 7. Then it may be further lowered by slightly lifting the entire frame until point 16 just clears pin '7, after which further lowering of the frame to the operating position of FIGURE 1 is easily effected. While the operation has been described with reference only to pins 7, 8, slots 9, 11, etc. in side wall 1a, it will be appreciated that during the several operations described, pins 7a, 8a, etc. are similarly riding in and along the duplicate slots in side Wall 11).

At FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 there is shown a form of the invention which, in addition to all the features described previously in connection with FIGURES 1 to 4, also includes, a feature whereby the length of the apron bands and roller gauge can be adjusted in accordance with the length of fibers to be spun.

In the modification being described, the lower and upper apron band retaining frames are each made in two relatively adjustable parts. Thus, referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, lower roller 27 is journaled in a roller stand 31 mounted for sliding on support or frame in the direction parallel with the plane of the figures, upwardly to the right, and downwardly to the left, together with rod 4 previously described, and support stand 5 clamped to this rod as by machine screw 60. as fully explained in connection with FIGURES 1 to 4. The lower tenser 28 and tenser retaining plate are fixed with stand 30.

The back part of the upper apron band retaining frame is identified at 19 and is of the same general shape as frame 1 of FIGURES 1 to 4. It has spaced vertical parallel side plates 1% and 1% depending in integral relation from opposite side edges of bight portion 19. Thus, for example, side plate 19a has slots 9 and 11, as previously explained, in cooperation with pins 7 and 8 fixed in the support stand 5. Since both side plates are duplicates and the principle and manner of operation are the same as in the species of FIGURES l to 4, it is deemed unnecessary to describe further the means by which the upper apron band retaining frame is held in the three positions of pivotal adjustment. The side plates 1% and 1912 are slotted as shown, to receive with a smooth fit the axles 26 of upper roller 23, whereby the roller is journaied for rotation and for movement in an arcuate path relatively to the slot.

The front part of the upper frame comprises a bight portion 18 having arms 21 and 21a extending from its side edges. The arms are identical and extend in parallel spaced relation, as seen upon FIGURE 7. Each arm is provided with a series of holes 22 spaced along its length and, of course, each hole in one arm is in alignment with a corresponding hole of the other arm. Upper tenser 20 is mounted by and. between the forwardlyprojecting ends of arms 21 and 21a.

Front part 18 is secured in adjustably fixed relation with back part 19, by a pair of screws 25, each of which may be inserted with a smooth fit, through a selected hole 22 of its arm and threaded into respective one of a pair of aligned holes 24 in the forward portions of side plates 19a and 1%, as best shown upon FIGURE 7. 32 and 33 identify the conventional front, upper and lower rollers, respectively. 7

Thus, this form of the invention while retaining all of the features and advantages of the species of FIGURES 1 to 4, also enables adaptation to fibers of different lengths by a corresponding variation in the apron band length. This change is effected by a preliminary sliding adjustment and fixation of sliding platform 31 relatively toward or from tenser 28 for the length of lower apron band selected or required. After this, screws 25 are removed and front part 18 is correspondingly slid in or out relatively to back part 19 until the spacing between upper tenser 20 and roller 23 is correct for the length of upper band selected. FIGURE 5 shows the adjustment for bands of maximum length for the model illustrated. FIGURE 6 shows the corresponding model adjusted for bands of minimum length. In this species, the upper and lower bands are held in the operating position of FIG- URES 5 and 6 by a pair of lugs such as 18a fixed with and protruding downwardly from the lower side edges of part 18. Each lug is positioned to enter a corresponding slot 29 in tenser retaining plate 29a, thus holding the upper frame in the operating relation shown, with respect to the lower tenser and roller.

The present specification describes the invention for the purposes of the disclosure. It is however, intended to cover all changes, modifications and combinations of the embodiments shown, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apron band retainer for a filament drafting device, a support having first and second vertically-spaced pins fixed therewith, an upper band retaining frame including a depending side wall having first and second slots opening through the rearward edge thereof, each slidably receiving and fitting a respective one of said pins, said second slot being arcuate and formed on a radius centered at the mid-portion of said first slot, the lower edge of said first slot having an extension merging into the upper edge of said second slot to form a rearward projection, said frame being pivotable from operating position, about said first pin located at said mid-portion of said first slot, to a first raised position wherein said pro jection passes and drops into position forwardly of said second pin as said frame gravitationally descends until the closed end of said first slot abuts said first pin, to thereby hold and maintain said frame in said first raised position.

2. An apron band retaining device as in claim 1, said rearward edge of said side wall from the terminus of the upper edge of said first slot, being arcuate and formed on a radius centered at the closed end of said first slot whereby said frame may be further pivoted about said first pin at the closed end of said first slot, from said first position to a second position with said arcuate edge riding on said second pin, until the centroid of said frame crosses the vertical through said first pin, and a lug formed on said side wall and engaging said second pin to releasably hold said frame in said second position.

3. An upper apron band retainer for a filament drafting device, comprising, a support having fixed therewith a first pin and a second pin downwardly and rearwardly Offset from said first pin, an upper band retaining frame including a side wall having a rearward edge and first and second slots opening through said rearward edge the lower edge of said first slot extending rearwardly to merge with the upper edge of said second slot and form a projection, each said slot slidably fitting a respective one of said pins, said second slot being arcuate and formed on a radius centered at the mid-portion of said first slot, said frame being pivotable about said first pin at the mid-portion of said first slot, from an operating position to a first raised position wherein said projection rides off said second pin and said frame drops until said first pin abuts the closed end of said first slot and said projection engages said second pin forwardly thereof to hold said frame in first raised position.

4. An upper band retainer as in claim 3, said rearward edge from the rearward terminus of the upper edge of said first slot being arcuate and formed on a radius centered at the closed end of said first slot, said radius being substantially equal to the spacing between said pins, said arcuate edge passing over and in contact with said second pin as said frame is further pivoted from said first position to a second position, and 3. lug formed on said side Wall and engaging said second pin to limit pivoting of said frame beyond said second position.

5. In an apron band retainer for a filament drafting device, having a lower tenser, a lower roller, a lower apron band passing about said tenser and lower roller, means mounting said lower roller for adjustment toward and from said lower tenser, and a support stand secured to said mounting means for adjustment therewith, an upper apron band retaining frame comprising a first part including two laterally spaced parallel arms, an upper tenser fixed to and between said arms, a second part comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel vertical side walls, an upper roller journaled by and between said walls, an upper apron band extending about said upper tenser and said upper roller, first means fixing said arms to said walls, respectively in a selected one of a plurality of positions, to correspondingly vary the spacing between said upper tenser and said upper roller, second means mounting said frame on said support stand for pivoting about an axis fixed with said stand, and means operable to releasably hold said frame in a selected one of a plurality of raised pivotal positions about said axis to correspondingly vary the spacings between said upper tenser, roller and apron and the bottom tenser, roller and apron.

6. An apron band retainer as in claim 5, said first means comprising a series of holes in and spaced along each said arm, a pair of threaded holes in said walls, respectively, and a pair of screws each adapted to pass with a smooth fit through a selected one of the holes in its arm and to threadedly engage a hole in the corresponding wall.

7. In an upper apron band retainer for a filament drafting device, a support, a first pair of aligned pins carried by said support, a second pair of aligned pins carried by said support, an upper band retaining frame including first and second laterally-spaced parallel side walls, an upper tenser fixed in and between said side walls, a roller journaled in and between said side walls in spaced relation with said upper tenser, an apron band extending about said tenser and roller, each said side wall having a first upper slot and a second lower slot, both opening through its rearward edge, each said slot receiving with a sliding fit a respective pin of said first and second pairs, each said second slot being formed on a radius centered at the midpoint of its respective said first slot, the lower edge of each said first slot intersec g he upper edge of the corresponding second slot to form a rearward extension, said pins and slots being constructed and arranged so that upward pivoting of said frame about said first pair of pins at said mid-point of said first slots, to bring each said projection adjacent a respective one of said second pins, enables gravitational movement of said frame until each closed end of said first slots abuts its respective said first pin and each said projection engages beneath a corresponding one of said second pins, to thereby releasably maintain said frame in a first elevated position.

8. The apron band retaining frame of claim 7, the rearward edge of each said wall extending upwardly in an arcuate path whose radius is centered at the closed end of its respective first slot and substantially equal to the separation of its respective said first and second pins, said arcuate edge riding on its respective second pin as said frame is pivoted further from said first elevated position to a second elevated position, and means limiting pivotal movement of said frame to said second elevated position.

9. In an upper apron band retainer for a filament drafting device, a fixed rod, a support fixed to said rod and including first and second parallel spaced upstanding arms, a first pair of aligned pins fixed to said first arms, respectively, a second pair of aligned pins fixed to said arms, respectively, each said pair of pins defining, respectively, first and second spaced parallel horizontal axes, an upper band retaining frame including laterally-spaced parallel side walls each having a rearward edge and first and second slots therein opening through said rearward edge, each said slot slidably receiving a respective one of said pins, each said second slot having an upper edge formed on a radius centered at the mid-point in its respective said first slot, to ride on said second pins in pivoting of said frame about said first pins when at said mid-point, the lower edge of each said first slot being extended to a point of intersection with the upper edge of its respective said second slot to form a projection, pivoting of said frame in elevation about the axis of said first pair of pins when at the mid-point of said first slots, enabling said frame to move downwardly to a position wherein the forward closed end of each said first slot abuts a respective one of said pins of said first pair, and each projection engages beneath a respective pin of said second pair to releasably hold said frame in a first elevated position, an upper roller journaled in and between the side walls of said frame, an upper tenser fixed in and between the side walls of said frame in spaced relation with and forwardly of said upper roller, and an apron band passing about said roller and tenser.

10. The apron band retainer of claim 9, each said rearward edge of said frame extending upwardly from the terminus of the upper edge of its first slot, in an arcuate edge about a center at the closed end of its said first slot, said arcuate edges riding on said second pair of pins in continued upward pivoting of said frame from said first elevated position to a second elevated position, and lugs formed on said side walls for abutment with said second pair of pins, respectively, to releasably hold said frame in said second elevated position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,100,139 11/1937 Honda 19-255 2,107,433 2/1938 Truslow et a] 19-255 2,160,545 5/1939 Honda 19-255 2,557,036 6/1951 Pope 15-255 2,810,938 10/1957 Rulon-Miller et al. 19-269 2,932,067 4/1960 Arakawa 19-255 FOREIGN PATENTS 851,989 10/1960 Great Britain. 910,756 5/1954 Germany.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN APRON BAND RETAINER FOR A MAMENT DRAFTING DEVICE, A SUPPORT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND VERTICALLY-SPACED PINS FIXED THEREWITH, AN UPPER BAND RETAINING FRAME INCLUDING A DEPENDING SIDE WALL HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS OPENING THROUGH THE REARWARD EDGE THEREOF, EACH SLIDABLY RECEIVING AND FITTING A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID PINS, SAID SECOND SLOT BEING ARCUATE AND FORMED ON A RADIUS CENTERED AT THE MID-PORTION OF SAID FIRST SLOT, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID FIRST SLOT HAVING AN EXTENSION MERGING INTO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SECOND SLOT TO FORM A REARWARD PROJECTION, SAID FRAME BEING PIVOTABLE FROM OPERATING POSITION, ABOUT SAID FIRST PIN LOCATED AT SAID MID-PORTION OF SAID FIRST SLOT, TO A FIRST RAISED POSITION WHEREIN SAID PROJECTION PASSES AND DROPS INTO POSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID SECOND PIN AS SAID FRAME GRAVITATIONALLY DESCENDS UNTIL THE CLOSED END OF SAID FIRST SLOT ABUTS SAID FIRST PIN, TO THEREBY HOLD AND MAINTAIN SAID FRAME IN SAID FIRST RAISED POSITION. 